Gross job gains and losses: fourth quarter 2005

September 08, 2006

From September to December 2005, the number of job gains from opening and expanding private sector establishments was 7.8 million, and the number of job losses from closing and contracting establishments was 7.3 million.

During the fourth quarter, expanding establishments added 6.3 million jobs, while opening establishments added 1.5 million jobs. Contracting establishments lost 5.9 million jobs, while closing establishments lost 1.4 million jobs.

These data are from Business Employment Dynamics. Data presented here are for workers in private industry covered by State unemployment insurance programs. Find more in "Business Employment Dynamics: Fourth Quarter 2005" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 06-1562. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions in employment at existing units and the addition of new jobs at opening units. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing units and the loss of jobs at closing units.